Under Wednesday, March 2, the book of history records, among other things:
1717: A ballet, “The Loves of Mars and Venus” by John Weaver, is performed for the first time at the Theater Royal in London.
1907: Oscar Straus’ operetta “A Waltz Dream” premieres in Vienna.
1962: In a bloodless coup d’état, the army under General Ne Win takes power in Burma.
1972: The American Jupiter probe Pioneer 10 is launched from Cape Kennedy (Canaveral).
1987: Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze announces that the USSR is considering withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan within 22 months.
1987: At a special meeting in Geneva, the Soviet Union proposes withdrawing medium-range weapons from Europe.
1992: Armenia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, San Marino, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan become members of the United Nations.
2012: Two young men who shot and hit 14 people with an air pressure pistol from a moving car in Vienna in September 2011 have been sentenced by the regional court to 14 months of partially conditional imprisonment.
birthdays: Louis-Michel Van Loo, French painter (1707-1771); August Kern, Switzerland. filmmaker (1902-1996); Siegfried Köhler, German composer (1927-1984); Abd al-Aziz Bouteflika, Alger. Politician President of Algeria 1999-2019 (1937-2021); John Irving, US writer (1942); Lou Reed, US rock musician (1942-2013); Jon Bon Jovi (actually John Bongiovi), US rock musician (1962); Chris Martin, British pop musician (“Coldplay”) (1977).
days of death: Hugh Walpole, English writers (1717-1797); Henry Bataille, French dramatist (1872-1922); Azorín (actually José Martínez Ruiz), Spanish writer (1873-1967); Erna Sack, German opera singer (1898-1972); Randolph Scott, US actor (1903-1987); Igo Hofstetter, Austria composer (1926-2002); Sandy Dennis, US actress (1937-1992); Eva Brunner-Szabo, Austria Photo and video artist (1961-2012).
name days: Karl, Agnes, Simplicius, Alwin, Ines, Grimo, Volker, Paulus, Heinrich, Leo, Theodorus.